Dedicant Path: Week 47 – “Personal Religion Final Essay”

When I joined ADF in the winter of 2012, I had really hit a dead end as far as my personal religion was concerned. Earlier that year, I had attempted to keep a solitary Wiccan practice, with my only guides being the available books I could find on-line or at the bookstore. While I felt it was close to what truly called to me, it wasn’t quite enough. So, upon joining ADF, I was a clean slate for a new religious practice. In fact, that was one of the reasons why I started the Dedicant Path so early, because I wanted to build my religious practice from the ground up. Since there was no grove close to where I lived initially, I started off as a solitary practitioner.

I began on Imbolc of 2013 with my first solitary High Day using the full ADF Core Order of Ritual taken from the Dedicant Path manual. While the ritual was very rough, I enjoyed it immensely. I liked the feeling of the Three Hallows at my shrine, while invoking the Three Realms and Three Kindreds felt natural following that. It’s very hard to articulate, but these elements felt, for like of a better word, “right” to me. When I started reading A History of Pagan Europe by Nigel Pennick and Prudence Jones, I figured out why. Across many of the Indo-European cultures of ancient times, these elements were used in their religious experiences. The use of these symbols and objects in ADF ritual made sense on both an intuitive and historical level. I truly felt at home with a practice that took the best of ancient practice and married them with with modern sensibilities.

Since I was a child, I had always been interested in Norse mythology, and it often flavored my burgeoning spirituality as I grew older. When I joined ADF and began my religious practice, I naturally gravitated toward the Norse hearth culture. In the beginning, I still referred to some of the elements in ADF Druidry in general terms. For instance, I called the Gods the “Shining Ones” and the nature spirits the “land spirits” in my rituals. As time went on, I gradually began replacing the names with terms that were more Norse. The “Shining Ones” became the Gods and Goddesses of the Aesir and Vanir (or “of Asgard,” if I wanted to keep it short), while the “land spirits” became the land wights. While there may be little difference in calling the nature spirits either land wights or land spirits, I felt that was an important piece in developing a more personalized religious experience tailored to my chosen hearth. Now, my High Day rituals include Hallows that fit within Norse cosmology: the Fire of creation, the Sacred Wells at the base of Yggdrasil, and Yggdrasil itself. My Three Realms are invoked by telling the tale of Odin and his brothers slaying the giant Ymir and creating the world, and so on. A personal goal of mine would be to include Old Norse language in my rituals to deepen the connection to the hearth culture.

I’ve touched on my home shrine in the accompanying essay, but I feel it’s important to point out that my home shrine, in many ways, is the physical representation of my evolving religious practice. In the beginning, it was a very basic shrine with the Three Hallows, a bell, a chalice for the blessing cup, and an offering bowl. Now, it holds a host of extra items that have reflected my religious growth. For example, I added an ancestor box on my shrine which holds pictures for those I wish to remember. This particular item was officially placed on my home shrine during my Winternights ritual as my working. I also replaced the chalice with an authentic drinking horn and added representations of the Three Kindreds on my shrine. A picture of Odin I placed on my shrine to represent the Gods began to have more meaning to me as I developed a connection with the All-Father on a more personal basis.

In addition to High Days, the Dedicant Path also helped me develop a firm daily practice through the mental training requirement. What began as 10 minutes of the Complete Breath 5 days a week has turned into a practice that includes an oracle reading for advice from the Kindreds at the beginning of my week, a weekly devotional to the Kindreds, with basic trance, Two Powers meditations, and prayers sprinkled throughout the week. I’m very happy with the weekly work I do, but I feel compelled to do more. There’s a possibility for daily devotionals in the future, as long as I can make it practical for my life schedule. During my mental training studies, I also spent more time out in nature, learning the land while giving offerings and becoming acquainted with the local land wights. I learned many lessons while connecting with the wights, and I seek to use this knowledge to care for the land and continue in right relationship with them.

Over the course of the year, I’ve also worked on incorporating the Nine Virtues into my life. As I started to write the virtue essays for the Dedicant Path, I would reflect on those virtue and think of ways to apply them to everyday life. Since I spend much of my time during the week at work, I would post the Nine Virtues on my desk as a reminder and guide in all decisions that I make. I would even make it a point to recite them from memory, which would increase my awareness of them and help me make better decisions. Now, I think back on situations where I could have applied a virtue for a better outcome and adjust my thinking for future reference. Other times, I look back on situations where I believe I applied the virtue effectively and take satisfaction that I did the right thing.

As noted previously, I began as a solitary, but shortly after beginning my practice I was lucky enough to find another ADF member in my area. Since getting in touch, we’ve been able to meet up on most High Days and hold ritual. While we are not formally recognized as a protogrove, this small group has helped satisfy my need for community, even if there are only three of us at the moment. Even our group practice has evolved over the year we have been meeting. Initially, my friend Beth wrote and led the High Day rituals with a Celtic influence, which was okay because I wished to learn more about the Celtic hearth culture. Now, we split up the High Days in which I lead the equinox and solstice rituals from a Norse perspective, and Beth leads the cross-quarter High Days with Celtic rituals, because being solely responsible for writing eight High Day while being in school and teaching is a lot of work. Not only has it become a learning experience for us all, but it also takes the pressure off Beth. Even with this small group, I still maintain my own solitary practice at home because I feel it’s important to have a close personal connection with my Gods and hearth culture.

The growth in my religious practice has been a wonderful journey, but the most important component is my growth in relationship with the Kindreds and the cosmos. As the Three Hallows sit in the center of my shrine, I have found that the more I invoke their power, the more connected I feel with existence. In the past, when looking up at the stars and experiencing nature, I would often feel awestruck and overwhelmed. Now, as I have connected with these essential elements of the cosmos, I no longer feel so small and insignificant, for I draw them to me in the Sacred Center. Through ritual and devotion, I am closer to the powerful beings that are the Three Kindreds and I have found myself blessed and fulfilled over the course of the year. As I read the tales of the Gods, I grow even closer to them as I know their deeds and become enchanted by their adventures. I have even unexpectedly formed a relationship with Odin and he provides me wisdom and guidance in the runes. It’s a very real possibility that this relationship could turn into one of patronage.

As I have traveled the path of Druidry, having kept the Elder Ways for a full year, I have been fulfilled beyond measure. Druidry has become a large part of my life and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I have forged a lasting relationship with my environment and the powers at work behind it. It is my intent to continue to walk this path, for it is the path I have been looking for my entire life. The path of the Dedicant has helped me lay the foundation for a solid religious practice, but it is only the beginning, and I look forward to what lies ahead as my religion and spirituality continues to evolve.

Dedicant Path: Week 45 – “The Nine Virtues: Fertility”

Fertility

Dedicant Path manual definition:

Bounty of mind, body and spirit involving creativity and industry, an appreciation of the physical and sensual, nurturing these qualities in others

Dictionary.com definition:

1. bearing, producing, or capable of producing vegetation, crops, etc., abundantly; prolific: fertile soil.
2. bearing or capable of bearing offspring.
3. abundantly productive: a fertile imagination.
4. producing an abundance (usually followed by of or in): a land fertile of wheat.
5. conducive to productiveness: fertile showers.

Note: I chose the Dictionary.com entry for “fertile” as “fertility” was strictly about biology. The “fertile” entry was closer in content to the ADF virtue definition, so I switched them out so that I would be able to compare them more closely.

Fertility is the virtue of productivity and is reflected in the act of working hard and enjoying the fruits of labor. In George Dumezil’s tripartite ideology, this virtue encompasses those people that work the land, and whose diligence was responsible for the survival of the homestead or tribe. Hard work does not lie solely with those who work their bodies to toil the land, but also to those individuals who foster creativity. Artists and craftspeople exercise fertility by producing works that create culture and ignite the fires of imagination. If the farmers sustain the bodies of the people, it is the artists that sustain the mind and soul. Fertility is, and must remain, a continuous act. As the Earth produces its bounty year after year, so too must production be consistent and continuous in order to provide fulfillment. An unplowed field will yield no crop and a blank canvas allows the spark of inspiration to wither on the vine.

Fertility as a virtue is ideal for ADF, because Druidry requires hard work and inspiration to continue as a living religion. One should look no further than the study programs as proof of this, or the creativity needed to make the liturgy come alive and spiritually touching. Surprisingly, the Dictionary.com doesn’t do a bad job of describing what fertility means outside of the biological function. I still prefer the ADF definition of fertility because it ties everything together into a cohesive whole. I find it interesting and appropriate that fertility is the ninth virtue in ADF’s list. In many ways, it brings all the preceding virtues full circle. I am of the opinion that fertility is the drive of a virtuous and fulfilling life. Without it, no work would be done and no ingenuity to drive our spirit. But with fertility, all things are possible, and it will often take blood, sweat, and tears to bring them to fruition.

Dedicant Path: Week 44 – “The Nine Virtues: Moderation”

Moderation

Dedicant Path manual definition:

Cultivating one’s appetites so that one is neither a slave to them nor driven to ill health (mental or physical) through excess or deficiency

Dictionary.com definition:

1. the quality of being moderate; restraint; avoidance of extremes or excesses; temperance.
2. the act of moderating.

Moderation is the virtue of balance and suggests that this evenness can be maintained by avoiding extremes. Often moderation is attached to activities such as eating and drinking, which is a very good example of the virtue in action. For example, if one were to eat too much unhealthy food over a long period of time, imbalances will begin occur within the body that could cause illness. However, like all things, moderation extends beyond the physical realm. This virtue can also be helpful in social situations where issues that could potentially cause a passionate response are discussed. By moderating emotion, and to a good degree the topic itself, what could have become a heated argument has now become an insightful discussion that lays the foundation for learning. While moderating excess is important, what is equally relevant is moderating inadequacies as well. To use the previous example concerning the consumption of food, while eating too much food can cause health problems, so too can eating too little.

Moderation is a virtue of health and balance, which makes it a great virtue to promote in ADF. We simply could not effectively honor the Kindreds, or contribute to the vision of ADF, if we are unhealthy physically, mentally, and socially. In my opinion, I believe the ADF definition of moderation is better than the Dictionary.com definition because it is more inclusive of what moderation entails. Not only does the ADF definition address excess, but it also acknowledges the hazards of deprivation, which is equally important.

Dedicant Path: Week 38 – “The Nine Virtues: Hospitality”

Hospitality

Dedicant Path manual definition:

Acting as both gracious host and appreciative guest, involving benevolence, friendliness, humor, and the honoring of a gift for a gift

Dictionary.com definition:

1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.
2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

Hospitality is a virtue of right relationships. It is about being a good host who is generous, kind, and compassionate to guests and strangers. But good hospitality doesn’t stop there, for within any meaningful relationship there must be reciprocity. This means that the guest should return the generosity of the host by being grateful and kind in return. The relationship is made strong when both parties do their part and it is within this strength that bonds are formed. Hospitality also extends to the world of spirit, and when it comes to worshipping the Kindreds offerings are given in ritual with the hope of receiving their blessings. This reciprocal relationship in Proto-Indo-European is called *ghos-ti- and if relationships are a web, it is *ghos-ti- that acts as the strands that bind everything together. It is this foundation of right practice and right relationship that forms the very core of Druidic practice.

The act of giving offerings to the Kindreds is a defining characteristic in ADF ritual, which makes hospitality an essential virtue within ADF. Because of this, I am of the opinion that you can’t separate the two. I also prefer the ADF definition of the virtue because not only does it give a definition, but provides some insight into what it entails. The Dictionary.com definition, while valid, comes of as a bit too cold for my taste. On a personal level, I find hospitality to be a great way of showing respect. As a Neo-Pagan Druid, I honor the divine spark in all people and hospitality is an act that allows me to show that respect. This virtue has also been instrumental in building my relationship with the Kindreds, for it was when I began to give my offerings to them that I began to hear their call.

Nature  awareness (continued):

The trip to Silver Lake this week will be the last trip for awhile as I approach the nature awareness requirement in my studies. I will eventually return at some point in the future, but I made this last trip to give my offerings to the land wights and thank them for all they have taught over the past several months.

It was dark and cold when I arrived and while I wanted to go to the thicket, I had some safety concerns. I ended up going to a wooded patch near the parking lot and this worked just as well, I think. I gave a prayer and offering to Nerthus before thanking the land wights and offering to them as well. It was a bittersweet moment, for I had developed a bond with the land around Silver Lake. I’m sure this bond will remain in some way, so I take some solace in that. I made a statement to the land wights that whenever I come back to Silver Lake, I will bring offerings with me to honor the land spirits that taught me so much. Shortly after giving my offering to the land wights, a light wind blew through the trees above me. I left shortly after.

I’ll miss my visits, but I left feeling good about it all. I had come to learn, and that I did. Now I will use the knowledge I have gained from Silver Lake to work with the land closer to where I live. Perhaps I should have done that from the beginning, but I really wanted to get a feel for a more naturally diverse portion of the region. At any rate, I’m happy with my decision because of the connection I made to that land, and it’s a connection I will continue to honor. Perhaps there’s a tradition here in the making.

Dedicant Path: Week 27 – “The Nine Virtues: Integrity”

Integrity

Dedicant Path manual definition:

Honor; being true to one’s self and to others, involving oath-keeping, honesty, fairness, respect and self confidence

Dictionary.com definition:

1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship’s hull.

Within personal relationships, integrity is being honest and fair, one who keeps their word to another and honors those agreements by following through. This fosters trustworthiness and credibility, often the hallmark of a strong individual. Integrity is being true to oneself and true to others, and holding to one’s principles and values. While the social aspects of integrity are often emphasized, it’s important to note that it also includes the physical realm as well. To have integrity in body is to be discerning in what is healthy to eat, as well as maintaining the physical body through exercise in order to stay healthy. Integrity touches all aspects of life and is ultimately about being a complete person socially, mentally, physically, and spiritually. By keeping all of these things strong and in balance makes the goal of living a good and fulfilling life a reality.

Integrity is an incredibly important virtue to have in ADF. The path of Druidry is about honoring the Kindreds and the Earth, but it is also about the path to become a better human being. Integrity lays a strong foundation for human behavior and works remarkably well with the other eight virtues by lending additional strength to each of them. While the dictionary definition of integrity works, I prefer the ADF definition because it is a more complete view of the virtue. I think it would be an even better definition if the physical aspect of integrity was mentioned, thus covering all parts of life that are touched by the virtue.

Nature awareness (continued):

The temperature was a bit cooler on my nature awareness trip to Silver Lake on Wednesday evening, which means fall is drawing closer. Thankfully, we’re only a couple of weeks away from the beginning of autumn and I’m happy for the change!

I gave my offering of cornmeal to Nerthus and wheat bread to the land wights in the thicket. On my way out, I noticed a spider sitting in its intricate web and I stood to observe it for a few moments. It sat in wait for its next meal and I wonder now if it feels the coming changes in the season. I also wonder if it knows that its life is drawing to a close as the season turns to much colder temperatures.

After emerging from the thicket, I browsed the trails to observe the forest around me. The sounds of the cicadas swarmed the wooded area, emitting a high pitched buzz wherever I went. It was almost hypnotic, in a way. I saw the cluster of berries and more were ripening into the deep purple color. I also saw other types of berries. Some were brown in color and others were still green. I look forward to seeing which color they will end up being when they become ripe. I walked by a post oak and noticed the big, beautiful acorns on the branches. They were green and still soft to the touch. I went looking for the plum trees, but the ones I typically checked on were bare. I also noticed that some of the purple berries nearby were missing as well. I’m guessing some kind of animal came by to grab the fruit to store of for winter, but I’m not entirely certain. It was still a bit odd to see them missing. For the most part, most of the trees were still full and green.

A little while later, I wandered to my spot and sat, listening and observing the land around me. The cicadas were relentless in their high pitched drone. I gazed at the sweet gum tree that sits across the path from where I sat and pondered its life cycle. I noticed that some of its leaves were beginning to turn yellow and I wondered about when the gumballs would eventually dry up and release its seed. Time will tell, for sure. I also thought about how I’ve become close to the sweet gum tree and all the trees around me, for that matter. Developing a relationship with the land has been incredibly fulfilling physically and spiritually. I don’t think I could, or would want to, stop what I’ve started with my visits to connect with nature. There is great wisdom in the trees, for the tale of the tree is the tale of life. While pondering this, I discovered why I enjoyed listening to the sound of the wind moving through the trees so much. Its because the wind lends the trees their voice. In a way, I can hear them talking, imparting their wisdom for those who will stop and listen.

Shortly after sitting in my spot, I did a 20 minute walking meditation. I established a good rhythm, focusing on my movements as my legs carried me along the paths. As I was walking I kept seeing trash on the trails. Rather than leave it, I decided to incorporate the disposal of the trash into my walking meditation, which worked out very well. I was a tender of the paths, walking through the woods and caring for it, while being aware of the forest and life all around me. It was a fantastic feeling! My mind started to get distracted by errant thoughts, so I used my left foot/right foot mantra to help me stay focused which was successful. As I walked, I began to drift into a meditative state, and it was along the path that I felt a keen sense of the earth goddess. It almost sounded like she was laughing in the forest. There was a beautiful quality to that moment that is hard to articulate. It was fleeting and mysterious, and I long to hear it again someday.

I ended my meditation, feeling joy from the experiences I had. I thanked the land wights and Nerthus for the experience. Out of all this time coming to the park, I have yet to thank the Earth Mother until now. How I could forget such a thing like that is beyond me, but that changes from this day forward. Perhaps me hearing her laughter was the earth goddess’ way of bringing herself fully into my awareness. It’s something that I’ll never forget. I pitched the trash I had found in a trash container and left the park.

Dedicant Path: Week 25 – “The Nine Virtues: Courage”

Courage

Dedicant Path manual definition:

the ability to act appropriately in the face of adversity

Dictionary.com definition:

1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

Courage is doing what is right in the face of hardship. Within George Dumezil’s tripartite ideology, this quality was ascribed to the warriors of ancient times, which is a fairly obvious attribution. Courage was needed to defend the tribe or kingdom from those that would covet its land and riches, but also to expand for the continued survival of the people. While courage may have a physical connotation, it has an equally important role in the social realm. For countless years, there have been those who have stood up for what they felt was right within a society that felt differently. Not only did these people forge needed change, but they paved the way for others to do the same. Courage is about doing what needs to be done despite how difficult achieving that goal may be.

I feel that the ADF and Dictionary.com definition of courage are more than adequate in their description of the virtue. This is also a great virtue to be included within ADF because situations that require courage come up in life frequently. From the dawn of humanity to the present day, courage has been a driving force of civilization. It’s hard to imagine what accomplishments and social justices we would have without it. We don’t live in a world where everything works out the way it should and sometimes we must fight to make things right. This attitude lies at the heart of courage and those that exhibit it are often remembered and emulated.

Nature awareness (continued):

It was another cool day when I headed out to Silver Lake for my weekly nature awareness trip. In fact, it almost felt like autumn, which is strange to me. Many people I know have commented on how much the are enjoying the weather, but it almost makes me uneasy because it’s supposed to be much warmer.

On my way to the thicket, I spotted numerous animals going about their business in the woods. I saw a rabbit hopping across the path and I even think I saw a hummingbird perched on the top of a dead tree that looked like it had been knocked over in a storm. The squirrels were active as well as they ran down the paths and into the underbrush.

I gave an offering of cornmeal to Nerthus and bread for the land wights within the thicket. I waited quietly for a little bit, but I didn’t get a response. Not one that I was satisfied with, at any rate. If I felt anything, it was indifference, which doesn’t bother or surprise me. The land wights, as I have found from my own experience, can be capricious and I didn’t let it bother me for the rest of the trip.

I went to sit in my spot and observe the wild around me. It all felt rather strange and I think the unusually pleasant temperatures had something to do with it. In my mind, I should be sweating buckets and swatting insects away from my face, but not today. It seemed as if summer had checked out early, which got me thinking about the season. A pang of sadness struck me as I realized that summer is indeed fading. Only a month left of it and I’d like to feel the heat again before its gone for good. I mused about the land wights and what kind of changes they might go through as the seasons turn. Gnats flew lazily through the air and I watch as they crossed the sunbeams of the descending sun. Among the grass was an intricate spider’s web which appeared invisible unless the light illuminated it in just the right way. I had a lot on my mind concerning the recent stress in my life and I didn’t attempt to dismiss the thoughts. I feel like sometimes those thoughts have to have their time and simply turning away from them will only lead them to keep appearing on the doorstep, so to speak. I listened to the insects as they made their bizarre sounds that echoed throughout the forest, but the birds remained fairly quiet.

Shortly afterwards I did a 15 minute walking meditation. It was a pretty interesting experience. All I did was walk the paths and tried to concentrate on my movements, which I did with some success. When thoughts popped up in my head, I let them flow through me and left them behind on the trails. During some of the walk, I felt like I had hit a “zone” of some kind where all I could see was a sea of green grass and leaves passing by me. Since I’m used to reaching a meditative state while still, this was a different feeling to me. During some of the walk, I attempted to concentrate on my breathing as well. This worked out okay, and I’ll continue to experiment to see what works best for me. For my first try at doing an active meditation, I think things went pretty well. I look forward to doing this meditation again!

After finishing with my walk I cleaned up some trash in the area, thanked the land wights for the experience, and then departed.

Dedicant Path: Week 20 – “The Nine Virtues: Vision”

Vision

Dedicant Path manual definition:

the ability to broaden one’s perspective to have a greater understanding of our place/role in the cosmos, relating to the past, present and future.

Dictionary.com definition:

1. the act or power of sensing with the eyes; sight.
2. the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.
3. an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency: a heavenly messenger appearing in a vision.
4. something seen or otherwise perceived during such an experience: The vision revealed its message.
5. a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation: visions of wealth and glory.

Vision is seeing the “big picture” by looking to the past and observing the present so that we may see where the future is heading. To quote a popular metaphor, it is seeing the forest for the trees and through this understanding we are able to see our place, and perhaps purpose, in the world and the cosmos. In my eyes, vision also has an active component to it. A person has an idea and by having this broad perspective, they are able to anticipate what is to come, envision a goal, and set a course towards it. This has the effect of pushing one towards a greater potential and further asserting a role within the cosmos. As a virtue, vision was vital for not only the priests and kings of old to foster purpose within their communities, but it is still incredibly important for modern Neo-Pagans. Without vision, the lack of perspective and direction could hamper growth on a personal level as well as within a group environment.

Vision is paramount within ADF, for it is the “Vision of ADF” laid out by Isaac Bonewits that propels the organization forward. By taking the best parts of the Old Ways and mixing them with modern sensibilities, Isaac saw a future where ADF could be looked on not only as it’s own independent, credible tradition of Druidry, but as a support network for the Neo-Pagan community. It is an ambitious vision, but by the activities and contributions of each member, ADF gets closer to these goals. This virtue means nothing if the work isn’t done to make this vision go from a dream to a reality.

Nature awareness (continued):

It would seem our “real” summer is officially here because it was incredibly hot and muggy out at Silver Lake! Making my way to the area where my spot is, the air was filled with insects, including gnats, flies, mosquitoes, and more. It was a constant struggle to keep them out of my face and from having me for dinner! At any rate, during the course of the week prior to my visit, I had been thinking that perhaps I could use this trip to find a representation of the land wights to keep on my home shrine. I didn’t have to look very long. As I approached the bench where I typically sit there was a large, beautiful gumball sitting in my place. It looked like it had just fallen from a nearby sweetgum tree. I’ve seen many gumballs in my life, but this one seemed special. Across the surface, it looked as if it held many mouths, like all gumballs who have given up their seed to the wind, but this struck me as fairly representative of the numerous land wights that populate any given area. I accepted the gift gladly!

I made my way to the thicket, giving Nerthus my offering of cornmeal and giving the land wights their new offering of a couple loaves of wheat bread. As I was living the thicket, a gust of wind picked up and blew over the area I was in and I took this as an immediate sign that my sacrifice was accepted. It would appear my new offering for the spirits of the land is a hit! Shortly afterwards, I walked the trails to see what I could see. The shrub with the small clusters of green fruit as well as the small trees with the nickel-sized green fruit didn’t show much change. I did, however, run across a tree that had green fruit, but they were much larger, perhaps a little smaller than a baseball, and the surface was course. Perhaps I’ll bring my tree identification book next week and see if I can tell what these different plants are, as well as the fruit they bear! I also saw some interesting insects like a butterfly whose wings looked like dead leaves and another insect that looked like it was a large stink bug.

As I walked the paths, my face and body drenched in sweat, a realization dawned on me. I could feel the life around me. Not just the physical trees, insects, birds, and animals, but the land wights also. I felt connected with them, in awe of the sights and sounds around me and their presence that lay just beyond. It’s a hard feeling to describe and it’s almost as if I could feel the energy that moved through these woods, through the things I could see and those I could not. It filled me with joy and yet I felt all of this without the need for meditation.

I made my way to my spot and did a 15 minute basic trance meditation. Despite what I was feeling, it was hard to concentrate due to the bugs distracting me and my mind was running something fierce. I could feel my breathing rhythm and count were slightly off, but I was successful in reaching a few moments of light trance. Within, it almost felt like the land wights were swirling around me and saying, “You finally figured it out!” No matter what, they are present all the time and everywhere. You don’t need a special state of awareness to get in touch with them, although it does certainly help. All you must do is be receptive, listen, and you will find them. Such a simple answer, but sometimes even those can be elusive when our minds are caught up on so many other things.

This experience has inspired me to do more for the land wights, so perhaps sometime in the future I will do a short Kindred attunement ritual to honor them. This will not only give me to opportunity to connect with them further and sacrifice more to them, but it will also show the land wights my continued devotion.

As I sat in a haze of reverence after my meditation, I was thinking that perhaps the gumball was not only a symbol of the land wights I’ve come to know, but also a symbol of a potential ally: the sweetgum tree. In all the places I’ve lived growing up, I’ve had my share of exposure to the sweetgum tree. Whether I was throwing the gumballs at my friends, or cursing their presence when I mowed the lawn, it almost seems like it’s been a quiet guardian in some portions of my life. This is definitely something to consider and explore further.

I went and checked on the woodchuck but, again, it was not around. I cleaned up some trash I had found, thanked the land wights for the (wonderful!) experience, and left the park.

Dedicant Path: Week 19 – “The Dedicant Oath: First Thoughts”

There are many things about the Old Ways that I find appealing, like the veneration of nature and working with the spirits that dwell there, looking to the past by honoring the Ancestors, and receiving support and inspiration from the gods and goddesses. By sacrificing to the Kindreds and being in right-relationship with them while living up to the virtues of the folk, this was considered a good life. And really, that’s what it was all about. To live well, to have wealth in both the physical and spiritual arenas, and to be happy. This is what appeals to me about the Old Ways and all of these things are held in the highest regard within Druidry. I’d be remiss to not include them in my Dedicant Oath in some fashion.

While I’ve been strengthening my bond to the land wights, I only know them on a very general level. Perhaps with some more time spent in nature I can get know to them on a more personal level. I’m also in the process of cultivating a relationship with the deities and the Ancestors. While my relationship with each of the Kindreds is in the beginning stages, I’d still like to honor each of them in my oath. My relationship with them is integral in my walk on the Druid’s Way and I wish to reflect that when the time comes to write my oath. This also goes for my Patron, should I have one at the time of the Dedicant Oath. While I don’t know who they are yet, I’m confident that they would like me to live up to the Old Ways that I have described above. This too is something that would be addressed in my oath. And, of course, the Norse hearth culture, should I stick with it and I most likely will unless something drastic occurs, will be prominent in the oath by the use of cosmological imagery, deities, and perhaps some linguistic influence.

To me, Neo-Pagan Druidry is about keeping the Old Ways and so much more. It’s about being the best human being you can possibly be. Many religions and belief systems have this goal, and Neo-Pagan Druidry is no different. It is about inspiring people to excellence, to motivate others to go that extra mile to enrich their own lives and the lives of others. This can come in the form of study and discovering new insights into the Old Ways, but it can also come in the form of creating beautiful art, or creating ways for people to connect with the Kindreds and the cosmos. It’s about contributing not only to other Druids and Neo-Pagans, but contributing to the community and to the world. We have the tools to make the world a better place, through our knowledge of nature and keeping the Earth healthy, to forging the inner pathways so that we may find peace within ourselves. Neo-Pagan Druidry is about action, and through this action we have an opportunity to achieve these goals and to enhance our existence here on Earth.

Nature awareness (continued):

As I was driving to Silver Lake, I noticed that the corn is growing nicely in the fields. In this part of the country, you can almost mark the time of year by the corn growth. It’s a welcome sight to see and a reminder that the harvest is coming. Shortly after arriving, I made my way to the thicket and gave my offerings to Nerthus, the Earth Mother, and the land wights. All of this was under the watchful eye of a spider that had set-up his web next to the area where I give my offerings.

I started by walking the paths as I’ve done the past couple of weeks. The change in routine is welcome and it makes my trips a little different each time. The green fruit I’ve been watching for the past couple of weeks haven’t exhibited much change. I spotted another plant with smaller green fruit, but these were in clusters. Perhaps they could be berries? Time will tell. I also saw a plant whose leaves were covered in a fungus-like growth. I’ll admit, I’ve never seen anything quite like that before. As I was looking at one of the strange leaves, I noticed a small spider tucked into the folds underneath, probably waiting for his next meal. Shortly after, I noticed orange mushrooms growing along the path. After some time, I made my way to my spot. The temperatures have been cool since the multiple days of rain across the region and it was quite comfortable out. I spent some time listening to the birds sing and the flies buzz around my head. The sun was shining through the leaves, giving the forest that wonderful golden green haze.

After a little while, I did a 15 minute basic trance meditation. My breath count and rhythm were good and I was able to let go of the thoughts that came, but it was a constant process throughout the meditation. That being said, I was still able to hit a light trance state. I tried to reach out to the land wights, but I didn’t get much of an answer from them. However, at one point I got a strong sense of “place.” That’s really the only way I can describe the feeling. And within that moment, I got a glimpse of a forest shrouded in darkness.  It was very brief and before I knew it, the vision was gone. It didn’t really feel like the forest I was in, but it felt close in a way. This is the first time I’ve experienced something like that, so I’m not entirely sure what to make of it.

To be honest, I felt a little disappointed that I didn’t get much of a response from the land wights. Then I realized that I set myself up for that disappointment by having an expectation of them. The land wights can be capricious and they come and go as they please. I think it’s a bit unfair to think that they will come at my beck and call. As such, I felt that my offerings were just barely accepted. Perhaps a different offering is in order. I don’t think it’d hurt to try something new, but I think it would help if I shed my expectations.

I checked on the woodchuck, but it wasn’t around. I don’t think I’ve seen it in several weeks, at least. However, I did see a beautiful red cardinal fly down a pathway as I was preparing to leave. After that, I thanked the land wights for the experience, picked up some trash in the area, and left the park shortly after.

Dedicant Path: Week 18 homework – “Personal Religion”

It’s been 16 weeks since my First Oath and now is a good time to revisit it and see how well I’ve been upholding that oath. One aspect of the oath that I believe I’ve done very well with is keeping the Pagan rites and ways through consistent observance of the High Days, as well as through my personal work in developing a relationship with the Kindreds. I need not look further than this journal to see that I’ve been hard at work. However, there are some aspects of the oath that I’d like to improve on. I’ve found that living a virtuous life, especially in modern times, can be quite difficult. While there are some virtues that I feel I’ve been adhering to, there are others that I’d like to work on integrating into my life more concretely. I realize that incorporating these virtues into my life is not only a challenging task, but a task that can take some time to do. However, I feel like I could be taking a more active role in living up to some these virtues. I lifted this oath straight from the DP manual and I’m still happy I did that. It encompasses everything I would have included in an oath had I written it myself and, at the time, I felt no need to fix what wasn’t broken. Looking at the oath now, it still accurately reflects my intentions and continues to be a solid reference point as I continue on the Druid’s Way.

When I first started my work on the DP I answered a set of questions provided by the WOTY guide. Looking back on the answers I provided, I can say with certainty that the answers I gave to these questions still hold true now that I’m several months into the work. The only thing that has changed is my idea of where this path will take me. In the beginning, I left the answer pretty open-ended, but now I have some ideas about where the path will go. I know now that I’d like to deepen my work within ADF by going beyond the DP into the GSP, with the goal to continue on to the Initiates Path. I also haven’t ruled out an interest in becoming clergy. In fact, I feel a strong pull towards that possibility. Seeing as I’d like to serve the Neo-Pagan and ADF community in a greater capacity, this would be a great way to do that. This is not an easy road by any means, and I realize that this is an ambitious track to take, but I feel like it has the potential to be incredibly fulfilling.

When I first started the DP, I knew immediately that I’d like to work with the Norse hearth culture. Since before joining ADF, the ways and deities of the Norse have always resonated with me in ways that no other culture did. In the beginning, the interest was cultivated when I began to do research into my family’s ancestors. I also had an affinity for trees and when I learned that the cosmological basis for Norse Paganism was Yggdrasil, the World Tree, that was all it took to cement my interest. The gods and goddesses of the Norse people were strong, inspirational, and the tales of their deeds captured my imagination. As the years went by, the more I learned about the Norse, the more I fell in love with their cosmology and deities. This has transferred beautifully to my religious work within ADF. I started off with a little bit of Norse influence in my ritual to begin with, gradually increasing it as time went on and as my knowledge grew. I have a little bit of interest in the Anglo-Saxon hearth culture as well, but I’m not sure if this will move beyond a scholarly interest in the difference and similarities with their Norse counterparts. If there’s one thing about the Norse hearth culture that I dislike it’s the prevalence and emphasis on gods of war. I’m not a fighter and I never have been, so it’s hard for me to relate with deities like Odin or Thor. Naturally, this leaves me more predisposed towards the Vanir. However, the ancient world was violent and fighting, especially in the hardy north, was just another fact of the life for the people who dwelt there. Perhaps with further study, I can reconcile these feelings and open the way for a better understanding of the battle-gods.

Currently, I have no Patron that has called to me yet and I’m okay with that. I have just started doing weekly devotionals and I’m hoping that will help me continue developing my relationship with the gods and goddesses. Perhaps from this a Patron will emerge, but we will see. Behind my home shrine I have a picture of both Odin and Freyja. The more I have read about them, the closer I feel to these two deities and there’s a possibility that my interest may catch their attention. For now, I am content with honoring the gods and goddesses of the entire Norse pantheon. I feel that having a Patron is a serious commitment, for it’s a deeper and more personal relationship between a human being and deity. It’s something that should be handled with care and it shouldn’t be rushed. I like the use of the word Patron because it is, by its very definition, someone who chooses, or is chosen, to be a protector, guardian, and/or supporter of a particular individual. Throughout mythology and history, we have seen numerous examples of this kind of relationship between a person and the gods. For me, it would be an honor to be chosen, protected and supported by a deity. If one of the purposes of my religion is to establish a meaningful connection to divinity, then I consider this an excellent way to do that.

Nature awareness (continued):

Wednesday evening I made my way to Silver Lake for my weekly exploration of nature awareness. It has been storming quite frequently the past few days which left its mark on the trees. Many limbs and branches were down, and even a few trees were snapped in half by the wind. Thankfully, the area of the park where I go to my spot was in relatively good shape. I made my way into the thicket, leaving my offering of cornmeal to Nerthus, the Earth Goddess, and olive oil to the land wights.

I started as I did last time by traveling the small trails around my spot. The ground was soft and muddy in some places from the rains. Horseflies buzzed around my head and I observed one that had landed on a leaf nearby. I have to admit, seeing a fly that large and that is known to sting makes me a bit uncomfortable. Thankfully, the ones I encountered didn’t give me much trouble. I observed the small green fruit that I noticed last week. They haven’t changed in size much, so I’ll continue to check on them to see what they become.

As I was traveling the trails, the sky began to darken. I checked my phone for a weather report and it looked like a storm was coming. Even the wind had picked up a little bit. Seeing as I had a little bit of time before the storm arrived, I went to my spot and sat, listening to the forest around me. It was hard to stay focused due to some personal issues that had cropped up shortly before arriving at the park, but I did my best to tune it out and take in the sounds of nature. The birds were singing, as usual, and the wind moved through the trees. A pleasant feeling came over me as I sat on the bench. It was a feeling of closeness and connection with not only the land around me but the spirits and creatures that resided there. It was a brief, and still a very general feeling, but it was certainly there. I took from this that my offerings had been accepted and it also meant that I am continuing to make progress in building a relationship with the land wights and the Earth Mother, not to mention getting to know the land.

I didn’t want to risk being caught out in the woods in the middle of a thunderstorm, so I opted not to do a basic trance meditation and left a little earlier than usual. I thanked the landspirits before departing.

Dedicant Path: Week 15 homework – “The Nine Virtues: Piety”

Piety

Dedicant Path manual definition:

correct observance of ritual and social traditions; the maintenance of the agreements, both personal and societal, that we humans have with the Gods and Spirits. Keeping the Old Ways, through ceremony and duty.

Dictionary.com definition:

1. reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations: a prayer full of piety.
   
2. the quality or state of being pious: saintly piety.
3. dutiful respect or regard for parents, homeland, etc.: filial piety.
4. a pious act, remark, belief, or the like: the pieties and sacrifices of an austere life.

To me, piety is a virtue of action. It is upholding and observing the Old Ways through ritual and personal work, with duty and reverence for the powers we seek to connect with. On a deeper level, it is the maintenance of these spiritual pathways from disrepair and disconnection. For example, it is through the rituals we perform that we continue the reciprocal relationship between the Kindreds and ourselves (*ghos-ti-), thus fueling our spirits. This makes piety the life-blood of religion, for without action it is nothing more than an idea. However, I believe that action is not enough without a sense of belief to back it up. I mention reverence in my own definition of piety, and I feel that it is reverence coupled with devotion that makes the rituals we perform to honor the Old Ways and the Kindreds truly meaningful.

Piety is probably one of the more important virtues within ADF, because without it, there would be no ADF. It is in regard to keeping the High Days that brings us all together as Druids in fellowship, where we each have our own beliefs to keep, but are united under a common ritual form and times of observance. Even the concept of orthopraxy finds its roots in piety, for it is “right practice” that can open the doors to the spirit and allow for connection with the Kindreds as well as the cosmos.

Nature awareness (continued):

Wednesday evening I headed out to Silver Lake. It was warm and cloudy, with a storm brewing off to the west. The park was hosting some type of event, so there were more people there than usual. I ventured to the thicket and gave my offerings to the Earth Mother and the landspirits. There was no sign of the baby bird I had seen last week. Taking a cue from my learning experience last week, I journeyed through the paths with more reverence and respect for the spirits and the land.

I sat in my spot and listened to the sounds around me. The birds didn’t seem like chatting as much today than in previous trips, but I did hear the drone of crickets. Everything seemed quiet and muted, the leaves were still from the lack of a breeze. It was very peaceful and I felt relaxed. Some people wandered near my spot and I wondered if I would get the privacy I like. I tried not to let it disrupt my time in nature and they eventually passed. I watched ants as they crawled on the bench I was sitting on, their feelers sweeping ahead of them. I even saw a mosquito sitting on a leaf near me and I watched it for a long time wondering if I’d be dinner for the evening. The leaves were a deep green and I observed their shape and the veins that coursed through them.

After a short while, I attempted a 10 minute basic trance meditation. My breath count and rhythm were at the top of their form, and I felt on a few occasions that I was close to slipping into a light trance. However, voices from the woods and the mosquitoes deciding to sup on my leg were pesky distractions. That being said, I still consider it a good session. I feel that I don’t always need to go into a trance for a meditation to be effective and satisfying. Sometimes just the act of trying and attempting to find that stillness in my mind is all that’s sufficient for me. My wife has imparted on me that even if I am trying to meditate and having trouble finding my groove, that in itself is still meditation. I think there is a lot of truth to that and it has helped me press on despite some really difficult sessions.

After my meditation, I felt content. This was a good change from last week and I felt connected to the land. Not that I wasn’t before, but I felt a renewed sense of vigor regarding my connection to the land, the spirits, and the Earth Mother. I gathered from this that my offerings were accepted and that my newfound respect was well-received. I traveled the paths shortly afterwards, taking in the forest and breathing in the thickness of the foliage. I found a fallen cluster of leaves that I will use as a decoration for my home shrine. I then picked up some trash I found, thanked the landspirits for the experience, and departed.